Strawberry plant named &#39;Magellan&#39;

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a new and distinct strawberry plant designated as ‘Magellan’ (a.k.a. ‘108789’).

Latin name of the genus and species: Fragaria x ananassa.

Varietal denomination: ‘Magellan’ (a.k.a. ‘108789’).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry plant designated as ‘Magellan’ (a.k.a. ‘108789’). ‘Magellan’ is a short-day plant.

‘Magellan’ (a.k.a. ‘108789’) is the result of a controlled-cross between a female parent cultivar designated ‘107705’ (unpatented, proprietary cultivar) and a male parent cultivar designated ‘106861’ (unpatented, proprietary cultivar) made by the Inventor and was first fruited in Watsonville, Calif. growing fields. Following selection and during testing, the plant was originally designated ‘108789’ and subsequently named ‘Magellan’.

This new strawberry plant was asexually reproduced via runners (stolons) by the inventor at Watsonville, Calif. Asexual propagules from the original source have been tested in Watsonville growing fields and to a limited extent, grower fields in high elevation. The properties of this new strawberry plant were found to be transmissible by such asexual reproduction. This new strawberry plant is stable and reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to new and distinctive strawberry plant designated as ‘Magellan’. This strawberry plant is primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions of the central coast of California. This region provides the necessary temperatures required for it to produce a strong vigorous plant and to remain in fruit production from March through October. The nearby Pacific Ocean provides the needed humidity and moderate day temperatures and evening chilling to maintain fruit quality for the production months.

The following traits and photographs in combination distinguish strawberry plant ‘Magellan’ from known strawberry varieties. In addition, this new strawberry plant was confirmed to be a unique strawberry germplasm when tested against the California Seed & Plant Lab, Inc. (Elverta, Calif.) database using Short Sequence Repeats (SSRs). Plants for the botanical measurements in the present application were grown as annuals. Any color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The fruit produced by each new cultivar is attractive and of excellent quality.

TABLE 1 Magellen CharType Characteristic Magellan General Plant Habit annual Plant Growth Habit upright Plant Height 24 cm Plant Width 29 cm Plant Width-Crown  3 cm Density of foliage, vigor medium Plant vigor moderate to high Leaf Terminal leaflet width (mm) 79 Terminal leaflet length (mm) 82 No. teeth/terminal leaflet: 19 Shape of the terminal leaflet base rounded Shape of terminal leaflet in cross- concave section Margin description of the terminal serrate to crenate Color of upper side of leaves 137A Color of lower side of leaves 139C Leaf blistering weak Leaf glossiness weak Limbs Petiole length (cm) 13 Petiole diameter (mm) 3.89 Petiole color 145B Petiolule length (mm) 6 Petiolule diameter (mm) 3.89 Attitude of hairs on upwards petiole and pedicel Stipule pubescence medium to heavy Stipule length (cm) 5 Stipule size large Stipule width (cm) 1.2 Stipule anthocyanin present Stipule color (color code) 145A Pedicel color (color code) 145B Peduncle length (cm) 27 Peduncle size medium to large Peduncle attitude erect Peduncle pubescence, attitude of hairs Medium, upwards Inflorescence Inflorescence position relative to above foliage Flower arrangement of petals touching Petal length (cm) 1.5 Petal width (cm) 1.5 Petal number per flower 6 Upper Petal color 155C Lower Petal color 157B Calyx diameter (cm) 3.9 Corolla diameter (cm) 3.5 Sepal length (cm) 1.6 Sepal width (cm) 0.4 Time of flowering March (50% of plants in bloom) Shape of stigma capitate Color of stigma  12A Length of style (mm) 2 Color of style  4A Color of the ovary 145B Length of the stamens (mm) 5 Number of stamen 25 Anther color  12A Shape of anther dorsifixed Size of anther medium Amount of pollen moderate Color of pollen  4A Color of filament  2C Length of filament (mm) 4 Number of flowers per truss 2 to 7 Stolon Stolon number 3 Stolon anthocyanin 166A Widest diameter of stolon 4.41 At leaf attachment (mm) Stolon color 145B Fruit Number of fruit per truss 2 to 5 Fruit length (cm) 4.2 Fruit width (cm) 4.1 Fruit skin color 53A to 45A Fruit flesh color excluding core  44A Fruit core length (cm) 3.4 Fruit core width (cm) 1.8 Fruit core color  41A Fruit weight (g) 26.8 Predominant fruit shape short wedge to conic Shape difference between primary Similar shape & secondary fruits Width of band without of achenes medium Fruit glossiness medium to strong Position of achenes Achene color 145B Achenes per fruit 438 Achene weight (g) 0.26 Position of calyx even to inserted level of adherence of calyx strong Color of calyx 137A Firmness of flesh firm Evenness of flesh color nearly even Sweetness (brix) 9 pH 3.27 Yield (g per plant per season) 2675

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color photographs depict various characteristics of the cultivars as nearly true as possible to make color reproductions.

FIG. 1 shows fruits of ‘Magellan’.

FIG. 2 shows sliced fruits of ‘Magellan’.

FIG. 3 shows ‘Magellan’ plants. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of strawberry plant named ‘Magellan’ substantially as shown and described herein. 